The Unfake Wedding of Jake & Carissa Uribe, Part II

Good golly, sorry for the late posting folks, but I seriously was downloading these pics and changing my mind on what to share up until this very moment. I still might change my mind.... At any rate, enjoy the rest of this gorgeous double-reception Utah wedding! Let's continue with the festivities, shall we?

Was there a “method to your madness” in choosing your vendors?

Haha yeah. I would say so. My dad is all about finding the best deal, so we did a TON of research in every single area to make sure we were getting the best service at the best price. It was definitely annoying at the time, because there were several moments when I was just ready to book and get it over with, but in the end it turned out to be perfect and I’m so glad he made me do so much research.

How long did you take to plan your wedding?

We got engaged in January of 2009, so we had a year and a half. That might seem a bit long, but I was in my junior year of college so I had to plan while going to school out of state, which is not easy lol. If it hadn’t been for my mom making things happen at home while I was away, it would have just been a bunch of good ideas that never went anywhere (love you Mom!).

Did you include rings and/or the honeymoon in your budget?

No because Jake and I paid for those ourselves.

Were you over or under budget? By how much (you can give a percentage)?

I’m pretty sure we went over what my Dad was hoping to pay, and if I had to guess, I would say by about 15%.

How large was your bridal party?

I had six bridesmaids and one junior bridesmaid. Jake had six groomsmen. We also had two ring bearers and a flower girl.

What was your biggest day-of crisis and how did you handle it (or rather, not handle)?

Honestly, our day went off pretty hitch-free! I think the biggest problem was the bustles in my dress breaking from people stepping on it during dancing (and I had a pretty long train), but I just ended up holding it all evening and it really wasn’t a big deal at all.

What was you biggest wedding planning crisis and how did you handle it (or rather, not handle)?

I’d have to say that the biggest crisis was finding a florist. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted, and everywhere we went they quoted way over our budget. I was very frustrated because my parents felt like everyone was trying to overcharge us, considering most of what I wanted was baby’s breath, which is super cheap, and roses, which are super common. I was to the point of tears and about to give up on the whole idea when, just months before the wedding, someone from our church mentioned the florist they had used, and she turned out to be a Godsend! She captured the look I wanted and didn’t break the bank. It was such a relief.

Who was the biggest pain in the ass on your wedding day?

Honestly, no one really got on my nerves at all! I just felt so blessed because everyone was SO kind and made me feel so special. My bridal party was incredible, always there making sure I had food or water or asking if I needed anything… It was more than I had hoped for and I’m so grateful to all my friends for making it everything I had dreamed.

What was the biggest waste of money that you loved?

I don’t know that I’d call it a waste, but probably the most unreasonable spending was on my hair and make up. I could have easily done my own, or had a friend do it, or even gotten it done somewhere much less expensive. But I spent a lot of money to get it done by Studio Enizio, and I’m SO glad that I did. Stephanie and Cynthia did an incredible job!! I just wanted to feel beautiful and look my best, and I think they brought that out in me. So I don’t regret it at all.

What was the biggest waste of money that you wish you’d passed on?

Actually, I don’t think we wasted money on anything. I mean, I easily could have…. But my Dad kept track of everything we were spending and made sure we didn’t get anything that wasn’t necessary. (Or at least anything he didn’t think was necessary!) 

What did you love that was also the cheapest?

Our lawn games! We decided to have some games for our guests to play during the hors d' oeuvres. My dad went on eBay and bought a few games and we borrowed some from friends, and I made wooden signs for them, and it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. We got so many compliments and so many people telling us how fun it was! I just wish I had had some time to play…

What was the most unexpected thing that happened (not necessarily a bad thing, just a surprise)?

Our bridal party killed it in the formal introductions at the reception! I wasn’t sure how they would feel about my desire for them to dance into the room when announced, especially because some of them had just met for the first time the day before. But to my surprise they super enthusiastic and created their own priceless routines… my sides hurt from laughing so hard. It was awesome.

  What was the funniest thing that happened?

I think I would have to say the garter toss. There was this chandelier right above the dance floor and Jake ended up shooting the garter straight up into the chandelier. But one of our groomsmen was determined to get it (he literally said, “I need this!!”), so he jumped onto a chair and then our other groomsmen hoisted him onto their shoulders so he could get it. It was hilarious.Well, that or my Uncle Lou dancing to Love Shack. 

What was the most ooey-gooey, tear-jerking moment?

Well, the entire ceremony was really emotional and I was sure that I would cry. But surprisingly I didn’t! Maybe it was the fact that I cried during the rehearsal the night before, or maybe it was because whenever Jake saw me starting to tear up he would say something to make me laugh, but I never actually cried during. Right afterward, though, when the processional was done, I was just standing there and all my bridesmaids ran out to hug me and then I started bawling. Go figure!

Did you DIY? What parts?

Yes, lots of little things, as much as we could! We made the aisle decorations and all the signs for the yard games we had during the reception. We made the “guest plant” (instead of a guest book, I wanted to do something a little less traditional, so we had people sign little cards and then hang them onto the plant) and decorated a birdcage for all the cards to go in. Jake’s mom decorated the arch for the ceremony. Basically all of the decorations at the church were done by me and my family and friends. I also designed our save the dates, place cards, menus, and programs. 

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

St. Lucia. And it was wonderful.

If you could do it all over again, what would you change, if anything?

I would change how we did the family pictures. We spent so much time getting the big family pictures on every side of the family (and Jake and I both have very large families), that we ran out of time and barely had a chance to get a picture of our immediate families. Plus Jake and I missed most of the hors d' oeuvre hour and lawn games. Other than that, though, I don’t think I’d change a thing!

 So once again, my apologies for the late post! I hope everyone enjoyed this incredible wedding and has a fantastic weekend! I have BIG PLANS this weekend! Will share with you Monday! And thanks again to Carissa and Jake for sharing their lovely day with me. Congratulations to you both!